Actually, I started writing another story with Rhodar a few years ago, but it never got past the first chapter. There was always something else that demanded to be written. Rhodar just had to wait--until now. I dug up that first chapter and began writing a new story. I'm at around 7,000 words right now. It has no title yet. That won't happen until the end. The working title is 'Saleen'. Here is the prologue to that story:
Seal and Rumos, the two night suns, illuminated the
grisly scene below.
The riders had burst upon the small camp from out of
nowhere. One of them killed the old man who stood guard with one vicious thrust
of his lance. The others spread out, plunging their lances into the dark shapes
on the hard ground.
Men and women, lost in their dreams, dying without
knowing their murderers. A few woke…too late. Death came mercilessly on swift,
dark wings even to those.
When it was done, the riders slid off their mounts,
stalked through camp on long, stiff legs, overturning cooking pots and
scattering bales of cloth and garments from the low wagons. Some walked among
the slain bodies, turning them over to look into the dead faces.
They seemed to be searching for something or someone.
One of them, who appeared to be their leader, spoke words in a harsh, hissing
language. He was taller and broader than the others, his face hidden inside the
hood of his cloak. Only his eyes glowed in the darkness of his cowl.
Lifting those eyes to the sky, he uttered a shrill,
piercing cry. Moments later from close by came an answer. A large shadow
separated from the branches of a tall tree and glided silently toward the
caller.
The light of the night suns reflected momentarily on
outstretched talons and a long, wicked beak, as the creature settled on the
shoulder of its master, folding black wings like a cloak around its feathered
body.
The riders mounted their steeds and disappeared as
silently as they had come, leaving their bloody deed behind.
A sob and then a loud cry came from one of the low
shrubs surrounding the clearing. Two figures emerged, one small, the other one
taller. The pale light revealed a white, oval face, framed by long, blond
hair…a girl, barely past puberty. She hurried after the small figure that ran
toward one of the still shapes on the ground.
“Come back, Kalo,” she called, her voice quavering,
breaking, as she saw the bloodstained earth.
“They killed my Moma,” cried the little boy. He
cradled the lifeless head of a woman in his arms.
The girl reached him, gently pulled him away. As the
dead woman’s head lolled to the side, blood oozed from her open mouth. The girl
screamed, grabbed the boy and ran blindly into the protection of the trees.
* * * *
At dawn the first scavengers moved in, tearing and
ripping the welcome meat from their bones, growling and snapping at each other
with bared teeth, not willing to share the bounty even with their own kind.
When an intruder dared to disturb them at their meal, they lifted their heads,
snarling angrily.
He was tall, lean-hipped, with wide, massive shoulders.
His muscular arms were bronzed by long exposure to the sun, and in his face two
steely blue eyes narrowed as they took in the gruesome scene.
He rode a large, strong horse, its hide covered with a
black, shiny coat.
“Looks like we’ve stumbled onto something unpleasant,
Nightwalker,” the big man rumbled. He reached for the heavy battle-axe slung
across his back, hefting it easily.
The carrion-eaters showed their long sharp fangs, but
slunk away, their thick tails between their legs, when the tall warrior
advanced. One, bolder than the others, tried to take a stand and died screaming
as the double-bladed weapon split its skull.
Turning his broad back to the watching animals, the
man bent to examine one of the dead. “Pretty,” he murmured as he peered into
the face of a young woman. A thick crust of dried blood hid a deep wound caused
by the murderous thrust of a lance between her full breasts. “Much too young to
have died so horribly,” he carried on to himself. His face showed no emotion,
but his eyes glimmered with a cold fire and the muscles of his jaws stood out
rigidly.
As he bent over another of the still bodies, his sharp
ears detected the sound of hoofs. Straightening, he turned to look at the trail
entering the clearing from the other side.
A lone rider burst out of the forest. He was young,
with a scowling face, short but broad and muscular. Padded leather armor
protected his deep chest, his thighs were bare; the boots he wore, reached over
his knees.
In his right hand, he carried a short, curved sword. A
long bow and a quiver filled with arrows were slung across his back.
His steed reared on its hind-legs when he brought it
to an abrupt halt, clawing the air with cloven hoofs.
The two men looked at each other, but before either of
them could react, a score of men broke from among the trees. They were small
and agile, clad in green garments. They carried short bows, arrows nocked and
pointing at the tall warrior.
“Admiring your work?” said the horseman.
The tall warrior chuckled without humor. “Surely you
don’t think I, one man, killed all these people? Besides, they’ve been dead for
hours.”
“Enough time for your accomplices to get away.”
“Let us use him for target-practice, Lord Carn,” said
one of the green-clad men.
The young lord shook his head. “No, he must be
punished in the proper way. Shackle him but don’t harm him.” He turned to the
others. “See if you can find her.”
While most of the small men searched the bodies, three
of them carefully approached the tall warrior. He watched them come closer, his
battle-axe half raised, but then he shrugged, dropped the axe and held out his
arms.
The young lord, who had been watching him with curious
eyes, spit into the dust. “Somehow I didn’t expect you to give up so easily.
But it doesn’t surprise me. You’re not only a murderer but also a coward. Do
you have a name or do you prefer to be executed nameless?”
The warrior stood rigid for a moment, his eyes
narrowed slightly, but then he relaxed and smiled. “Better to be a live coward
than a dead fool. I am Rhodar.”
“Rhodar,” Lord Carn mused. “Your mode of dress tells
me you’re an outlander. Where do you come from?”
“From the western plains,” Rhodar said. “Beyond the
mountains.”
“A barbarian.” The young lord nodded. “I guessed that
much. Where are your companions?”
“I told you I travel alone. And this is not my work. I
do not murder helpless women and children.”
“So you say, but the evidence is against you,” Lord
Carn said coldly. “Enough of this chatter. Put the shackles on him.” He watched
as his men put the irons around the barbarian’s thick wrists, then he turned
away, sheathing his curved sword. “Did you find her?” he asked the nearest of
the green-clad men.
They shook their heads. “No, she’s not among the
slain,” said one of them.
“There might be a chance then she’s still alive.
Search the grounds,” Lord Carn commanded. “Perhaps she fled into the forest.”
They searched the surrounding area but didn’t find who
they were looking for. Suddenly one of the men came back. “My Lord, I think I
have found something. There are two sets of tracks leading into the swamps. One
was made by small feet, a child’s feet, and the other one could be those of a
girl or young woman.”
“Could be?” Lord Carn said sharply. “I thought the Quinx
were expert woodsmen?”
“The person who made those tracks was of light stature
and wore soft leather boots, the kind most slave girls commonly wear when going
outside. That is all I can tell you, my Lord. She was running, obviously in a
great panic.”
Lord Carn nodded, seemingly satisfied. “We’ll follow
those tracks.”
“There is something else, my Lord,” added the woodsman.
“The tracks of many horses…leading south. The tracks are all over the camp, as
you can see for yourself. Single-hoofed animals, the same breed the prisoner is
riding.”
“Proof that he is guilty. I wonder why he lingered on.”
“Maybe he wanted to have some fun with the dead
women?” suggested one of the woodsmen. “I’ve heard ugly stories about these
barbarians.”
Rhodar glared at the man. “Only a so-called civilized
man would get ideas like that. We honor our dead, especially the women!”
“How? By each male member of your tribe giving them
one last ride?” laughed another.
The huge muscles on the barbarian’s arms corded as his
hands became fists, but after a tense moment he relaxed. He even managed a
grin. “It would become quite tedious to lead a horse around with a dead body
tied to its back. No, we have a different ceremony.”
The other one looked at the big man, a puzzled
expression on his elfin face. Suddenly he laughed again. “You have a strange
sense of humor, barbarian; also a temper but very well under control. I like
that.”
“Who cares what you like!” thundered Lord Carn. “Stop
fraternizing with the prisoner and let’s get moving. You…” He pointed at one of
the woodsmen. “Take four men, round up the pack-animals, load the dead onto the
wagons and take them back to the city. Tie the prisoner behind one of the
wagons. He looks strong, he can walk. And don’t forget the Ax. I’d like to add
it to my collection.”
The woodsman bowed. “Yes, my Lord.” He bent to pick up
the big battle-ax but managed to get only the handle off the ground. Straining
unsuccessfully, he finally called another one to give him a hand. Both tried
without success. The shiny double-bladed head stayed on the ground.
“What manner of weapon is this?” cursed one of the
men, straightening. “I’ve seen the barbarian carry it in one hand, apparently
without strain.”
Rhodar, who had been watching, laughed. “Singar
is a special weapon. No man but its rightful owner will ever wield it.”
“An enchanted blade,” said Lord Carn. “How is it you
possess such a weapon?”
“My father gave it to me, but the magic will fade
soon. It must be renewed by the sorcerer who once, a long time ago, put the
spell on it. That is the reason I travel through your country…to find Arguss,
the Sorcerer, so I can become the true master of Singar.”
“How can you wield this weapon if you are not its true
master?”
“Singar was given freely to me by my father. If
I don’t use the ax too often, the spell will last until I have found Arguss.
Another reason I would not waste its power by indiscriminately murdering
innocent people.”
Lord Carn stared at Rhodar, a brooding expression on
his dark face. “Maybe you are not what you seem,” he mused. “Maybe you are a
magician in disguise. Perhaps you are this sorcerer Arguss, come to visit your
evil colleague Kastabaan.”
Rhodar laughed again. “If I were a magician I wouldn’t
stand here now waiting for you to shackle me.”
“Easy for you to prevent with one of your spells,”
murmured the young lord. He looked into the sky. “Oh, if only Saleen were here.
No spell could touch me. Why did she have to escape? I always treated her
fairly.”
“Who is Saleen?” Rhodar asked.
“Saleen?” Lord Carn gave him a long stare. “She’s a
girl. A special girl with a special gift. Kastabaan wants her dead, but I need
her alive. She’s my only protection against his evil.” His hand chopped down.
“Enough!” he roared angrily. “I don’t know why I converse with you. Pick up the
axe and put it on one of the wagons. Don’t try to use any of your magic tricks.
My men will be watching you.”
Rhodar did as ordered. They tied a strong rope around
his wrists and fastened the other end to a wagon. When that was done, Lord Carn
gathered most of his men together and rode off, his men following single file.
Five stayed behind to take care of the wagons and the
prisoner.
